Winnipeg Jets take a risk in promotion of new head coach

After Rick Bowness announced his retirement, the Jets have been working hard to find a new coach. Teams like the Jets that are in the playoffs often don't have a hard time finding new replacements and the Jets have already found their guy.

Scott Arniel has been with the Jets organization since 2022, when he was hired to be associate coach under Rick Bowness. He has had time to develop relationships with these players, which NHL teams always seem to love in a new head coach.

He has only been head coach in the NHL once in his career, when he coached the Blue Jackets from 2010-2012. This was a very unsuccessful stint for him as the first year they missed the playoffs, followed by a year where they went 11-25-5 before he was let go. Despite his poor stint 12 years ago, many Jets fans are excited to see him behind the bench.

This is someone that the organization knows well and they wouldn't make this decision unless they thought it was the right one. Nowadays lots of teams seem to be promoting from within the organization, as teams are more confident in their guy than the abilities of someone else. He's also coached during Bowness' multiple sick leaves, so the Jets are convinced they have something special in this promotion.